Modified Otago Exercise Program on Balance Performance

Our study attempts to establish a new home-based exercise option incorporating mOEP with video, music and lyrics. Our new approach shares the same aims with Exergames and video-supported methods - to increase the exercise motivation of elderlies, hence their physical performance. Based on the video-supported approach in one previous study, we add in the component of music therapy. Music-based exercise interventions could produce positive outcomes on both physical, such as gait, balance and fall risk and level of physical activities and psychological, including exercise adherence, perceived exertion, thus extending exercise duration. However, exact mechanisms have not been revealed and it may be limited by personal preferences on music. In our video, the music we chose is of brisk rhythm, slightly delightful melody and higher pitch, which all help to shape a cheerful and relaxing atmosphere for the elderlies.

Otago Exercise Program (OEP) was developed by Otago Medical School in New Zealand as a tailor-made home-based fall prevention program to improve the balance performance of community-dwelling elderlies over 1 year. It comprises of 3 main components: 5 lower limb strengthening, 12 balance retraining and walking exercises. In the original program, the intensity was set as moderate with up to 4 difficulty levels for strengthening and balance exercises, in terms of ankle cuff weights and number of repetitions, and level of support respectively. It also stated that the frequency was at least 3 times a week for the former two exercises and at least 2 times per week for walking exercises; while the total duration was expected to make up to an hour, including 30-minute walking exercises.